Monday, 29 October 2012

Morning everyone. I was hoping to post this yesterday and share some really (really really really!) fantastic news but we took an impromptu trip to the in-laws to watch some of the Great South Run. We also watched my husband’s cousin, who was playing in a Samba Band along the side of the route. We did a lot of walking and I was so tired when we got home I didn’t have the energy to post.

So onto my news…… I have been lucky enough to join the Whimsy Stamps Digi DT for the next 6 months. Whoop whoop! I applied a couple weeks back and didn’t hold out much hope as I was sure there would be loads more fantastic crafters applying, so you can imagine my excitement when I found out. Elliot did think it a little strange when Mummy started hopping around the lounge.

I love the artists that design for Whimsy Stamps so I had to colour an image and make a card to share (to celebrate!):

The image I picked is 'Frosty Friends' - StampArt Design by Kathryne as I’m trying to catch up on making some Christmas cards. The image has been coloured with ProMarkers and for a change I’ve used no patterned papers. However I have used plain Kraft and red card from my stash, a ‘Tied Together’ embossing folder, some Marianne Snowflake dies, some Scalloped Square Nesties, some card candy, some real and faux stitching (my sewing machine was having a tantrum so I gave up after the first layer, a sentiment from a Hobby Arts set, some tiny staples (coloured to match with a ProMarker) and plenty of good old sparkly glitter.

Saturday, 27 October 2012

OMG. Making a 21st Birthday card and not being able to go over the top with the pretty stuff was a really hard task. So I dug out one of my favourite Popcorn the Bear stamps, coloured him in with ProMarkers in the colours of the recipients favourite football team and added just a little bit of bling!

I’ve used a really large card blank for me (8x8) and to this I’ve added red and gray card from my stash, the red gingham patterned paper is from the Melissa Frances Kitsch in the Kitchen 6x6 paper pad. I’ve used a few dies on this card…a Marianne Designs Star Border Die, Sizzix Framelits Nesting Star Dies, X-Cut Square Parenthesis Nesting Dies (which with some clever rolling I cut an elongated version for the sentiment) and Nestability Circle Dies. The sentiment is from a Paula Pascual Personal Impressions set. The numbers are a clear stamp set (not sure of the make) and I have cut them out by hand. Also used some felt, ribbon, glitter glue and glossy accents.

Thursday, 25 October 2012

Happy Thursday! I may or may not be still in bed when you read this….I’m staying with my parents for a couple of days, whilst my Dad has a minor operation, and my lovely Mum always gives me the chance to have a little lie in by getting up with Elliot. Unfortunately though as the Baby Bump grows I am less and less inclined to lie in as the bed is becoming a bit uncomfortable….roll on January…wait a minute what am I thinking….then it will be back to night feeds and the like…good job babies are so cute.

Anyway enough of my waffle I’m here to share the new challenge at Paper Crafting Journey which this fortnight is:

Ribbon or Twine

A nice easy one for me as I use ribbon on (nearly) every card I make.

We are very lucky to be sponsored this challenge by The Paper Shelter who have very kindly given the DT an image to use. I chose the adorable Warm in the Winter and have coloured her in with my trusty ProMarkers.

I have kept the rest of the card quite simple. The patterned papers are (very old) from DCWV (I think). The frame has been cut using a QuicKutz/Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Doily Squares die from green card. The little Christmas Tree Ribbon Buckles are another QuicKutz die. A bit of ribbon, some pearls, glitter , tiny staples and a sentiment from a Hobby Art set and that’s another Christmas Card ticked off the list.

Tuesday, 23 October 2012

Afternoon all. Just trying to catch up with blogging. I’ve been making things left right and centre but haven’t got round to blogging them yet.

We went to a Naming Day Party on Sunday for our Friends baby Girl and rather than go with a traditional type gift I though I would make a little personal handcrafted gift. So I created this door plaque for Baby’s room:

The base is an MDF Door Plaque from Kaisercraft that I picked up during my little holiday to Blackpool. I found it in a lovely craft shop I discovered in Fleetwood called Crafty Company (a lovely big shop with a fantastic stamp selection, I could have browsed for hours but the rest of my family had other ideas!) I also bought the wooden letters there as well.

I painted the base with purple and then cream acrylic paint and then sanded back to distress slightly. The letters were done the same way but with pink and cream paint. I’ve also used a little Dusty Concord Distress Ink around all the edges.

The top section was then covered with patterned papers that came free from a magazine (don’t know the make though). To this I’ve added an image called Sweet Heart Birgitta from All That Scraps (coloured with ProMarkers), flowers, pearls and metal corner from Wild Orchid Crafts, Viva Pearl Decor Pen and some mesh ribbon, satin ribbon and pearl strands from my stash.

Thursday, 18 October 2012

Morning all, I’ve got an exciting morning of bathroom cleaning planned (I think this nesting business has a lot to answer for!) so I am just going to quickly share a card I made for some friends of ours. They know they are having a little boy and he’s due in a couple of weeks, so for once I got prepared and made the card in advance. All I will need to do when baby is here is add the date on the ticket and pop in the post.

I have used some blue gingham paper from a magazine freebie and some scraps of First Edition Up Up and Away paper and Core’dinations card. The sentiments stamps are from a Paula Pascual Personal Impressions set, the ticket stamp is from Pink Gem Designs and the little flower stamps are from a Woodware Clear Magic Sentiment Set. Flowers are from Wild Orchid Crafts and the pearls, doily and ribbon are from my stash.

It doesn’t show in the first photo but I have decoupaged the baby and the bear.

Tuesday, 16 October 2012

Not a good start to the week for me. We came back from our weeks holiday to a broken boiler,so no hot water or heat (luckily our shower is electric). Thanks to a lovely engineer who came out at lunchtime it’s now working again and I’ve warmed up enough that my fingers can type this post!

I’ve got some more of the dreaded housework to do so just a quick post to share another of my Kanban makes:

I may well be back later with some more cards to share as I seem to be creating loads of personal cards for myself at the moment… including two birthday cards and a new baby card and I’ve still got a Naming Day card and present to finish.

Thursday, 11 October 2012

Morning all. As you read this I should be having a nice little lie in on my holiday (hopefully Nanny and Granddad will have got up early with Little One). So I have scheduled this little post to share my card for the new challenge over at Paper Crafting Journey which this fortnight is:

ADD SOME BLING

I have used a gorgeous image from Tiddly Inks called Wryn Grow a Little Love. She has been coloured with ProMarkers. I used some fabulous papers from Crate Paper Random 6x6 Pad, my favourite papers at the moment I think! I’ve also used some flowers and bling from Wild Orchid Crafts, some ribbon and pom pom trim from my stash, a gorgeous butterfly die from CC Designs, a Sizzix/Tim Holtz Wonky Scallop border die and a sentiment from a Personal Impressions Paula Pascual set.

Friday, 5 October 2012

Good Morning All. I have scheduled this post as I should be packing for a little holiday to Blackpool as you read this. I don’t know who is more excited about seeing the lights….me or Little One!

I’m here to share another make using gorgeous Kanban goodies. I have used a set kit for this one but rather a mix of stamps, a die cut large topper and some patterned background card. And yes I did fussy cut all those butterflies!!

Thursday, 4 October 2012

I’ve had a bit of hectic evening, so a little later than planned I’m here to to share my project for the new challenge over at Sarah Hurley Challenge. Emma has set the theme and for this challenge it is:

AUTUMN

I couldn’t get my Mojo in gear for a card (my usual make) with an autumnal theme so I decided to try something a little different and I’ve a digi scrapbook layout of a long weekend we took in Wales this time two years ago when Elliot was just 8 months old. It’s one of my favourite pictures of Elliot and Hubby together and that’s what I’m going to write on the little journaling card, once I’ve printed it out!

In the three weeks since Volume 1 launched we've had over 2300 readers. WOW! If you haven't had chance to look yet, you can read the first issue here. Another piece of fabulous news is that out Guest Designers Sharon and Carol are joining us on a permanent basis.

So onto the main point of my post. We are starting to think about and create more fantastic projects for Volume 2 of the Sarah Hurley Lookbook and Sarah has been asked a lot of questions about deadlines and information for submitting projects.

Sarah has put together the following information for you all should you be thinking about submitting:

“Your projects can be any type of craft project - a card, scrapbook page or altered piece, it must be made using Sarah Hurley products (you can see everything here). You can email us your submissions for consideration here - all submissions must be received by midnight on 4th November to be considered. We will email successful people within 14 days of this date to confirm details.

A few tips for your submission!

Your projects look best photographed on a white or neutral background with little or no props and even lighting.

It helps to have one or two close up shots of any special features or details.

Your projects look best photographed straight on, not looking up or down or at an angle (you can use angles on your close up shots to show off details or 3D elements)

When photographing scrapbook pages, you may find it easier to lay them on the floor (near a window is good!) and stand over them to take your picture

Don't take your pictures in bright sunny daylight - mid morning or mid afternoon is usually the best I find

Please make sure your projects are original and have not been featured on your blog or published anywhere else before

You don't need to be a professional photographer, we just need a clear, well lit picture that shows off your project well - it can be the best project in the world but if your photo is dark and blurry no one will know!

Don't worry about sending instructions or materials lists etc... at this stage - we will ask you for the information needed if you are selected.

We look forward to seeing your projects!

Thanks for stopping by

Lisa

PS: Not to be missed…… On Friday Sarah will be running a fun promotion, just for one day only!

Monday, 1 October 2012

Between Blogger and Windows Live Writer I’ve been having real problems posting anything onto my blog, but with a little help from Hubby I have managed to fix it. I think.

So a little later than planned I'm here to share my card for the new challenge over at Paper Crafting Journey which this time is MYTHICAL CREATURES.

We are lucky to be sponsored by Digi Stamps 4 Joy, who provided this gorgeous Mermaid image.

I’ve tried to use colours and dies cuts to create an underwater theme for my easel card. The papers are from MME Wild Asparagus 8x8 pad, along with some silver glitter cards and silver mirri which I have coloured with Alcohol Inks. The fish are made from a balloon punch with a little triangle for a tail and were cut from a scrap of pinky/orange patterned paper. I’ve used a Marianne Corner die and a CC Designs Fern leaf die. The sentiment is from a Paula Pascual Personal Impressions clear stamp set and I’ve also used a ribbon, lot’s of bling, glitter and Glossy Accents. Hope you like.

About Me

I am married to Daniel and I am a full time Mum to Elliot and Emily. I have been a crafter without really knowing it since I was a little girl, but have expanded my talents from those early days of finger painting and playing with glitter. My main passion is card making using rubber stamps but will try my hand at most crafts. I was lucky enough to be named Papercraft Essentials Magazines 'Papercrafter of the Year 2012' and more recently Cardmaking & Papercraft Magazines 'Cardmaker of the Year 2017'. Plus I also design for some pretty awesome companies.